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Barickman statement on capital funding

9/6/2018

ISU Center for Fine Arts to receive funding for repairs

State Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) is pleased to share that Illinois State University will see more than $3 million for improvements and repairs as part of the Fiscal Year 2019 capital budget approved by lawmakers in late May. More than $57 million in capital funding was appropriated as part of the current FY 2019 state budget.

“These funds will help ensure Illinois State University remains a premier destination for tomorrow’s leaders,” said Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady. “When we passed the budget in May, thanks to the leadership of Governor Rauner, we wanted to ensure these long-neglected projects were addressed.”

The funding will go to Illinois State University College of Fine Arts (CFA) to cover essential repairs after the college experienced three significant infrastructure system failures in the last three years, causing severe disruption to operations.

“These failures had a significant negative impact on students and faculty and the scheduling of CFA facilities,” said Senator Jason Barickman. “These funds ensure the college can get back to operating smoothly and seamlessly. Funding is always needed for the most basic repairs and updates, it’s essential that we continue to recognize that such needs will arise and budget accordingly to cover them.”

Having been approved, the comptroller now has authority to release the funding to ISU to finish repairs and upgrades, once costs begin to be incurred.

“This capital investment in Illinois State allows for critical infrastructure improvements,” said Gov. Bruce Rauner. “These improvements go hand-in-hand with enhanced scholarship programs like AIM High and MAP. Together, the investments will help us do a better job of preparing our students for the 21st century economy.”

The FY19 capital initiatives appropriated in the final budget included $100 million to address needs of higher education facilities, including the funding necessary to complete ongoing construction and repair projects, as well as financing to begin new maintenance and infrastructure improvement projects.